Gabaldon Returns to Winner’s Circle in Thursday Feature

Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $200,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Qatar Racing and Soldi Stable’s Gabaldon returned to the winner’s circle with a popular front-running triumph Thursday at Gulfstream Park, ending a winless streak that dated back to his debut last May.

Ridden by five-pound apprentice Yolber Torres for trainer Jose D’Angelo, Gabaldon ($3.40) outclassed his four rivals in the optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up. The winning time was 56.40 seconds over the all-weather Tapeta course.

Outrun for the early lead, Gabaldon quickly assumed the top spot and was in front through splits of 21.36 and 44.17 seconds with plenty left to turn back late-running Sticky McShnickens by 1 ½ lengths for his first win since capturing Gulfstream’s Royal Palm Juvenile sprinting on the turf.

“He hadn’t won since the first time out, but he always ran huge. I think the only time he wasn’t in the money was at Saratoga when he chased some fast factions,” D’Angelo said. “Today it was fast, too. He’s way better on the grass, but he was the best horse of the race today. I’m very happy to have him back in the winner’s circle.”

Gabaldon made one more start at 2, finishing second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot last June before going to the sidelines. This year he was third in Gulfstream’s March 22 Texas Glitter, fifth in the Aug. 10 Mahony (G3) at Saratoga, and second in a pair of optional claiming allowances this fall at Gulfstream, both against older state-breds.

“We were looking for the Florida condition to give him the confidence to go forward because now he has to go against open company and older horses, and it’s going to be tougher,” D’Angelo said. “We’ll go easy with him. He’s going to decide where we are going. We’ll see how he does and we’ll make plans later.”

Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $200,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is estimated to grow to $200,000 for Friday’s eight-race program at Gulfstream Park.

First race post time is 12:20 p.m.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Thursday for the sixth consecutive racing day following mandatory payouts of $13,268.58 Nov. 29.

Friday’s sequence covers Races 3-8, starting with a 5 ½-furlong claimer for 3-year-olds and up on the all-weather Tapeta course where Likely Perspective raced first off the claim for trainer Bobby Dibona, who succeeds at 28 percent with such horses.

Race 4 is a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile on the main track. Steeze, a $250,000 son of Vekoma, looks to break through after placing in each of his last three starts, the most recent coming July 31 at Colonial Downs. Trainer Kent Sweezey sends out Tapit’s Mischief, by Into Mischief, who has run third in his two races, and Plum Perfect, a homebred son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, fourth in his Nov. 7 unveiling at Gulfstream.

The 7-year-old gelding Winfromwithin, a stakes winner at 3 and 4 that is also twice graded-stakes placed, goes after a sixth career win in Race 7, a $25,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up sprinting five furlongs on Tapeta. The son of Into Mischief has run fourth in his three starts this year, the last two at the course and distance including the Sept. 20 Bob Umphrey Sprint.

In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Who’s Hot: Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rode back-to-back winners Thursday, Irwin ($5.60) in Race 5 and Winplaceandshow ($5.80) in Race 6 … Jockey David Egan also doubled, aboard Plagne Champagne ($4.80) in Race 1 and Neom City ($29) in Race 7 … Trainer Jose D’Angelo saddled a pair of winners, Maitre D ($2.80) in Race 3 and Gabaldon ($3.40) in Race 8.